Hostage

Star Wars: Rebel Force #2

by Alex Wheeler

The deadly assassin contracted by the Empire, X-7, is closer than ever to discovering the identity of his target. He's already infiltrated the top levels of the Rebel Alliance and gained Leia's trust. But he still hasn't been able to get Leia to give up the classified information he needs. After all, Leia Organa is unbreakable: the youngest, toughest member of the Galactic Senate, and after its dissolution, the fiercest opponent of the Empire. She's survived kidnapping and torture under Darth Vader, but she's never had to do anything more difficult than her latest mission. She is going home. And X-7 knows it will be the perfect opportunity to destroy her.

Genres: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Space, Childrens

176 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Scott Rhee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Star Wars Rebel Force series by Alex Wheeler, “Hostage”, sees Tobin Elad (the fake identity of Imperial assassin X-7) ingratiating himself swimmingly into the Rebel Alliance. He’s basically become just “one of the crew” now, after demonstrating loyalty and bravery in several life-threatening incidents. Luke and Leia seem smitten by the guy, and while Han doesn’t have any reason to dislike him, he’s a bit jealous of Elad’s ease in becoming a new friend to everybody, including Chewie.

X-7, meanwhile, still hasn’t found out the identity of the pilot who destroyed the Death Star, but he has his suspicions. He’ll have a better chance at finding out on their new mission: return to the Alderaanian system to a planet called Delaya, where hundreds of thousands of Alderaanians have sought refuge and asylum after their home planet was destroyed by the Death Star.

Leia is, of course, feeling fragile. Her people are being treated less like refugees and more like slave labor on Delaya, and she feels guilty. A faction of bitter Alderaanians have made a deal with the Empire: in exchange for Princess Leia’s life, the Empire has promised a transfer to a planet where they can resettle and rebuild. Of course, we all know how well the Empire keeps their promises.

When Leia is kidnapped, Luke, Han, Chewie, and Tobin spring into action to rescue her, with the help of an old man who once knew Leia’s father. Unbeknownst to everyone, the old man is a former Jedi-in-hiding named Ferus Olin. Like Obi-Wan Kenobi, Olin was assigned to Alderaan to keep an eye on young Leia.

Another exciting entry in the fast-paced, suspenseful young adult series written in 2009. I’m enjoying this series far more than I expected to.

[Ash Mustard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love reading Star Wars books and Princess Leia is my favorite female character 😊

[Kieran McAndrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leia has accepted the cover story of the Imperial assassin X-7, who tries to gather intelligence from the Rebellion's leader as to the identity of the person who destroyed the Death Star. Her mission to Delaya is to provide succour to the survivors of Alderaan, but she finds herself struck by their situation. Meanwhile, an old friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi, former Padawan learner Ferus Olin proves a useful ally to Luke Skywalker.

A good read again, which does look at a forgotten consequence of the Death Star.

[elef · Rating 5 out of 5]

ferus olin being leia's second father figure was something i didn't know i needed but i really loved their relationship! i generally loved how this book focused on her and people of alderaan. this series keep continuing to surprise me but i'm enjoying it very much! i also loved han's fatherly subplot and i can't wait to read the next book, which is most likely to focused on him.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have been very impressed with all the Star Wars Young Adult novels, particularily how they interlace other series and the movies that we know and love. Unlike Star Trek, which I also enjoy, these storylines are tighter to the arc and do a fairly good job of making plausible links to other books and shows. Star Trek novels get out of that by leaving a large loophole of books being "non-canon," allowing for several books to contradict each other quite often (but I still enjoy reading them.

Unlike other reviewers, I appreciated the reacquaintance with Ferus Olin. I think he's a good, but imperfect, link to the old ways of the Jedi and he struggles with the changes that Luke inevitably will bring--he reminds us of the Jedi rules against attachments, yet admits he is indeed attached to Leia. Luke, the future of the Jedi order, has none of the formality Ferus expects as "how Jedi are supposed to be," even though he has struggled with those rules himself and at one time left the Jedi (which made his survival possible).

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read, same as the 1st book, although Leia was portrayed as a bit of a baby or spoiled. Her character wasn't as well written as the 1st book.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read that stands on its own, yet gives us a deeper look into the time between RotS and ANH.

[Graff Fuller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Wars: Legends: Rebel Force 02 Hostage by Alex Wheeler
adventurous emotional funny inspiring reflective sad tense

Fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75 Stars

I had fun with this story.

I love how the author is protecting the OG characters...so that what they do in the series...does not negatively impact the characters in the movies...though there is ONE part that they might've...made a mistake with the character's response. I don't think she would've done what the author wrote would've happenen (maybe this is just my opinion). If Vader and Tarkin couldn't get anything out of her, I doubt ANYONE could've.

Overall, it is cool to see the things that happen "in between" what we see in the movies/TV series, and in other books within the Extended Universe/Legends.

I love how they are exploring Leia's connection to the Force, and how Ferus Olin's character has been embedded (like Obi-Wan) to protect her...like he is with Luke. Love that idea.

Also, the unassuming character of Fess is a lot of fun...to what how he navigates the way around, in the high class functions and low level scum, he's just perfect.

And how the Empire is in search for the pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Of course they's want to know his name, but how did they keep that a secret...especially with the public celebrations with him? Seems odd.

Okay, on to Star Wars: Legends: Rebel Force 03 Renegade (which seems to be focusing on Han Solo). Alright.

[Jordan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well what do you know? Another YA Star Wars novel, another great read. This should surprise no one based on just how enjoyable the entire young adult segment of this franchise has been.

Hostage isn’t really all that different from its predecessor. The original gang goes to a planet, gets caught up in some space shenanigans, and, at the very last second, manages to escape to live to fight the Empire another day.

The thing though, despite the familiarity, is that Wheeler continues to make the repetitive storyline exciting. There’s new ways to craft the action and clever ways to introduce new threats. And, speaking of the action, Hostage is easily one of the quickest and action packed Star Wars novels in any of the intended reading segments.

I also really enjoy how, like authors in the regular EU, Wheeler borrows other author’s characters and makes them integral to the story. Bringing in Jude Watson’s original creation Ferus, was a great choice. He’s easily one of the best characters from Watson’s Jedi Quest and Last of the Jedi series and seeing him again, in a role far removed from those books, was a true gift to fans.

I may only be 2 books into the Rebel Force series, but no doubt about it, this sextuplet of stories are shaping up to be one of the best in the entirety of the Star Wars novels.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hostage is a great book and a big improvement on the first Rebel Force book. We get good looks at the inner struggle and rage inside Luke, the self doubt and conflicting feeling of Han, and Leia's true heartbreak hidden under the mask of bravery. It's a fantastic look into these characters heads at a very unique time in their life.

I think the best part about this book is the character Fess. Without spoiling the books, he is somewhat a returning character from the last of the Jedi series, and while he got a conclusive and satisfying ending in those books, I don't mind the retcon they did to bring him back for this too much. Mostly because it's a fascinating perspective and a great character I've grown to really love.

Most uniquely is we also get to see Obi Wan's perspective on Luke. Why he's yet to contact him or tell him the truth about his family. It's a great, and in character, explanation for the retcon and makes the book worth reading alone.

X7 is still a bit boring and silly, and it can get a bit repetitive but I enjoyed the overall plot and characters, even if the title of the book gives away the game a little bit.

[Tania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing an exciting adventure

Hostage is an excellent continuation of the Star Wars saga. Filling in the gaps between movies, Alex Wheeler brings us Leia, Luke, and Han Solo working together to build a rebel army after the destruction of the Death Star. Here they land on a foreign planet hoping to reconnect with old allies and gain new ones, while remaining hidden from Darth Vader. There are a lot of movie spoilers in this series, so it's better if you've seen at least the original trilogy first, and better yet the prequels as well.

The characters are well written, and I particularly prefer Han Solo in book form because the expanded universe authors can reveal his psyche in ways the movies cannot. I found the changes in Leia to be authentic in light of everything she's lost at this point. Luke is still developing, to be expected, and Chewbacca is always a rock star. Minor characters also have a chance to grow with the story. No surprises here, wirth this being filler content between known stories, but its a solid offering.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the series! I liked this book just as much as the first one and really sailed though the pages. The main characters were still strong and the new characters added more dimension and interest to the story. I really enjoyed Ferus, which surprised me because if you had told me before reading this that there was an ex-Jedi running around in this book and protecting Leia I would have flipped. But Ferus was handled really well and he fits into the Expanded Universe. I am interested to see where his story goes.

I am excited to continue the series!

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story was boring (the last 30-40 pages were okay though) and didn't seem much like a continuation from the first book as X-7 was barely involved in the story. My big problem is that Leia and Luke seemed way out of character, especially Leia. I don't know if the author doesn't understand who they are or was just trying to force them to fit the story. Either way, it was very disappointing and distracting. I have the other books in the series so I will keep reading them but I'm not expecting much at all at this point.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now this was a surprise: a Legends-era trial run for much of the material that the TV series "Obi Wan Kenobi" was going to explore, only this time it also feels a bit like a sequel that deals head-on with the destruction of Alderaan and its refugee survivors...to say nothing of the stress Leia puts on herself, thinking that she is single-handedly fronting the Rebel Alliance. It's almost too much for such a little book, yet strain as it does against its word-count confines, this was far more compelling than many of the much longer High Republic books I've read in the recent past.

[Keya Bakrania · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book a lot it is about how X-7 is gaining Leia’s trust and Leia can’t even see it is about how Luke and Leia have there adventure to get the rebel storage thing so that the rebels can get out of Yavin-4. Luke and Leia and Han do some pretty dangerous things too.
My favorite part of the book is when X-7 figures out who destroyed the Death Star from Leia.
I would give this book a 4 star it is not my most favorite books but I would definitely read it again.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I finally went back to reading this because I finished the Last of the Jedi series. We get another chunk of Ferus Olin's story, which I appreciated. I was pretty annoyed at the way Leia treated him,buti also feel like it was unnecessary for him to pretend to be a simmering court fool for years, so...*shrug*

The main plotline of this series is 9k but not great. I'll keep going with it at some point.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as solid as the previous entry, though I note that X-7 (the spy in their midst) didn't really get much to do this time around. And just like the last time I perused these pages, I dislike the whiff of fatphobia that is present in this book - a fan fave returns in a different guise; naturally we are told how gross he is now. His fate is also different from the one given him to by Jude Watson and I have trouble accepting another author's interference.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

the ending was that x17 was doing something with Luke's speed bike. next book well see how he suvies that.

was a good book 2 another 4 to go . easy read fun theses books. you should give them a try.

looks back 1st star wars movies gives more what all them went though more stores about that.

[S.J. Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second installment in the Rebel Force series sees Leia grappling with the aftermath of a shattered, elitist bond between planets in a system she idealized. Not as much follow through as I would have liked in her ensuing ethical quandary, but still impressive for a young readers book.

No spoilers, but a character I never thought I'd see again comes back in an intriguing way!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot better than the first. That annoying character X 7 takes a back seat and Ferus Olin is back from seclusion. It was nice to see him again. Leia is kind of unlike herself but you can think it’s from grief.

[Phoenix]

this book is probably the best star wars book iv'e ever read and it has so much detail and explains the story really well i'm not going to mention anything about it because of (spoilers) but i would say this is about a good book for grades 4-5 in my opinion.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this was an interesting one. A Jedi Padawan (one that knew Anakin) returns, Luke still lacks confidence, and Leia and Han are still bickering with each other. Sad situation for the Alderaanian survivors.

[Gary Varga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This part of the story was far more exhilarating than the first Rebel Force book. Very much a Star Wars pace and a fun read. Whilst suitable for its target audience, this was a more enjoyable read as an adult than the preceding book.

[Chrian Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, so good, so what!

This book serves a great continuation for its good first novel.

[Zombie_Phreak · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was boring and didn’t feel like a Star Wars book. I can’t recommend this to anyone.

[Ronald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Elad is still around at the end as Leia is taken hostage to be turned over to the Empire. Fess, who knew her father and is a former Jedi, turns up who does not want to lead but just to protect Leia.

[Jared · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Wars Legends Project #230

Background: Hostage was written by Alex Wheeler and published in January 2009. It is the second in the 6-book Rebel Force series, following Target (my review). Wheeler is the author of the whole series, which is his only listed Star Wars work. However, as I read this series, the Internet is abuzz with rumors that Pablo Hidalgo, one of the official keepers of Star Wars lore and a member of the Lucasfilm Story Group supposedly confirmed on Twitter just this year that Alex Wheeler (long known to be a pseudonym) is in fact another pen name for Judy Blundell aka Jude Watson. Blundell has issued a denial, but also posted a very confusing response to a different reader that suggested she in fact is the author. Under the name Jude Watson, Blundell has written some 50 Star Wars books, chief among the the 3 YA series chronicling the exploits of the main prequel-era Jedi throughout that time period.

Frankly, I'm not sure what to believe. Rebel Force is actually written to in some ways be a continuation of at least some of the characters and situations Watson established in her previous series, so if she didn't write it, it's a shame that those characters she shaped were handed off to someone else for their final adventures. On the other hand, if it is her, she's certainly adopted a somewhat different style of writing I would say, and one that I am not enjoying quite as much as her previous efforts. Still, people have speculated for years that Watson and Wheeler are one and the same, based on plot devices and themes that appear in Rebel Force.

In any case, Hostage takes place a few weeks after the Battle of Yavin, picking up very shortly after the end of the last book. The main characters are Han, Luke, and Leia, along with Chewie, the Imperial assassin X-7, and ex-Jedi Ferus Olin. The story takes place mostly on Yavin IV and Delaya, sister world to Alderaan.

Summary: Tasked with identifying and executing the pilot who blew up the Death Star, X-7 has successfully infiltrated the Rebellion and befriended Princess Leia. Knowing that she must have the information he needs, X-7 will stop at nothing to talk, trick, or (if he must) torture it out of her. But to do that, he'll need to stay close, which means accompanying Leia, Han, and Luke on their mission to Delaya, in the Alderaan system, new home to thousands of devastated refugees from Leia's homeworld. Emotionally vulnerable in the face of returning to the scene of her greatest loss, will Leia succumb to X-7's guile, or worse?

Review: After a week start, things are very much picking up in this book. If Watson is indeed the author, it's no surprise. This is the kind of thing she did best: unpacking the complex emotions of characters who have suffered significant trauma and loss. This is one of the few Star Wars books I've read that really deals with Leia's struggle in the period after Alderaan's destruction, and it's a rich vein of material, worthy of serious attention.

I had also forgotten that I had seen that Ferus Olin makes his return in this series. When last we saw him, his failure to launch a successful Rebellion against the nascent Empire had resulted in devastating personal consequences, and he had been tasked by Obi-Wan to watch over the young Princess Leia on Alderaan just as Obi-Wan himself was watching over Luke on Tatooine. Here, we learn that he was a much larger presence in Leia's life than Obi-Wan was in Luke's, but that he has played the role of a pompous, flattering hanger-on at court, and Leia kind of despises him and doesn't understand why her father placed so much trust in him. It's an interesting dynamic that contrasts with the relationship between Luke and Obi-Wan, and I look forward to seeing it unfold.

In addition, the story here is much more compelling, maybe because it's more personal to our heroes and the stakes seem so much higher. We begin to see Luke continuing to learn to trust his instincts, although it's clear that he hasn't quite fine-tuned them as a guidance system in line with the Force. But his moral compass serves him well in its stead in this case.

This was a really solid entry, and I hope the series continues in this vein. I'm still not sold on X-7 as the villain character, but although that element seems about to come to a head, his role in the better subplots of this book weren't as prominent.

B

[Lauren Beck · Rating 4 out of 5]

After that finale, if I didn't know how Episode V started, I'd probably be up all night reading the next books in this series.

[Melenia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this read

[Richard Denton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to see Ferrus again but why is he treated like he is an old man? He around Vader's age but they act like he is Obi Wan's age.